Tenuous 'planning permission' granted for a pier

[JamesF]

For my piers I bent the threaded rod at an angle and then pushed then bent end about four inches deep into the wet concrete.  I can't see a need to go any deeper than that.

No idea about the resin anchors I'm afraid.

James

[Kev M]

Threaded rod into the concrete will always give the most stable platform. ( make sure they are bent )

Resin anchors are for when the concrete is already in situ. 

 

 

 

[Swoop1]

Recieved my HEQ5 pier adatper last week. A finer piece of aluminium and brass I have never seen-

[Swoop1]

Just hit the purchase button for the ironmongery for installing the pier.

[Swoop1]

This is turning into the longest thread without an end product I think🙁

I have booked a week off next month, most of which will be spent sorting out other peoples issues. I have decided however, that it is also the week when the hole is dug and the concrete mixed and poured.

So far, 9 bags of gravel and 7 bags of sand obtained. 3 more bags of each plus 4 bags of cement to obtain (includes contingency extra dry mix- just in case).

A very exhausting weeks holiday looming!

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, Swoop1 said:

 

I have booked a week off next month, most of which will be spent sorting out other peoples issues. 

Lots of us on here have issues, so you will be very busy indeed

🤣

[Peter Drew]

I'm sure he can HANDLE it Jeremy.     🙂

[johninderby]

6 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

I'm sure he can HANDLE it Jeremy.     🙂

Hey that’s my line. 😁

[Swoop1]

Todays preparation task was to knock up a 500mm X 500mm form for the top of the block.

I intend to dig my hole about 630mm deep as the area of garden I am setting up on has a very slight slope towards the house. Digging slightly deeper will allow me to place the form in the top of the hole, level it so that the top of the base is about 10mm below the lowest lawn level and concrete to the bottom of the form. After fixing the pier to the base, I will backfill with decorative chippings to tart it up a bit.

The only piece of board I have that is big enough to do a bolt hole template is 400mm X 400mm so I had to screw offcuts of timber to the top of the bard in such a way that it centralises roughly in the form. I  drilled through the form, one hole either face and hammered wooden dowels (flatpack excess) as supports.

[Swoop1]

Couple of updates.

A colleague is welding some short T pieces to the ends of the M12 threaded rod for me as a means of anchoring the rod in the concrete.

Ground was broken today on the footing for the pier-

The form in place to allow me to cut the turf to the right dimensions and the orientation that is acceptable to the chief garden designer. I have used a tulip of Rebellion 'Square Leg' as a means of a) getting a rough idea of the level of the garden and b) christening the start of the work. 'Square Leg' is far more acceptable (though a lot less effective) than a simple spirit level.

Excavation commenced. I have gone down about 150mm so far and am discovering just what a load of junk my garden is laid on.

More digging tomorrow.

[Swoop1]

I got my threaded rod back today. My colleague had run out of stainless stock but had some narrow gauge stainless rod. he cut some short pieces, drilled the threaded rod, tapped the short pieces into place then tack welded them. Not pretty but I think very effective-

I have also just progressed from excavation to archaeology. Got down to 340mm and found the top of an old wall or similar. This feature takes up about 3/4 of the hole so, the next question is- leave the feature in place and try to get the concrete to bond or turn my hand to subterranean demolition. I will at the least have to dig the narrow bit down another 150mm or so.

Time for another beer to assist the cogitating and ease the aching back.

[Seelive]

What about trying again at either +/- 300mm? 🤔 Found exactly the same thing when I tried planting some new shrubs in my garden a few years ago.  Not sure that all the effort with a bolster and a lump hammer was worth it!

Must admit, a beautifully edged hole, your lawn edges must be so much better than mine 😆

[M40]

What you could do is get hold of a long masonry drill bit and if you have a decent hammer drill, just drill through the brickwork. You might find that after years of damp stuff on it, the bricks may be quite soft so the drill will go through them easily. It would make a really good hardcore base and save that aching back of yours. Bit of chemical fixing later and job done, bonus 😜

[Swoop1]

6 hours ago, Seelive said:

What about trying again at either +/- 300mm? 🤔 Found exactly the same thing when I tried planting some new shrubs in my garden a few years ago.  Not sure that all the effort with a bolster and a lump hammer was worth it!

Must admit, a beautifully edged hole, your lawn edges must be so much better than mine 😆

Can't put it elsewhere. This is about the only spot in the garden that is acceptable in a not getting in the way whilst having reasonable skies.

See my following psot for the solution......

[Swoop1]

2 hours ago, M40 said:

What you could do is get hold of a long masonry drill bit and if you have a decent hammer drill, just drill through the brickwork. You might find that after years of damp stuff on it, the bricks may be quite soft so the drill will go through them easily. It would make a really good hardcore base and save that aching back of yours. Bit of chemical fixing later and job done, bonus 😜

As you will see in the next post, I did opt to explore the integrity of the wall........

[Swoop1]

The cogitating beer did its job nicely. I decided to have a lay down afterwards-

I went at the brick work with a 2lb lump hammer, cold chisel and bolster. The wall was a 2 brick thick run that extended through the pit but, the edge closest to the rim of the pit was actually one face of the wall. I managed to remove a good chunk of masonry right down to 640mm. I had to cut some bricks and ease others out from beneath overhanging courses. I decided to call it a day after a couple of hours of hammering and levering. My shoulders and forearms are killing me! I am going to leave the hole as it is now as I don't think it will have much effect on the end result (other than having to hand mix slightly less concrete).

I have just got the spoils of my labour to dispose of now.

[Stargazer33]

Careful the Time Team don't see this post, or they'll be in digging up your whole garden to try and find the rest of the Roman villa that used to be on that site! 😜🗡🏺🪔⛏

[Swoop1]

Did a bit of on line digging and found a 1911 map which had a comparison slider showing current ariel view.

The first image has a cross centred roughly where my pier location will be.

The second shows the slider moved and the 1911 map with the cross centred roughlywhere I dug my pit.

All I have to do now is find out what the building was.

 

[JeremyS]

37 minutes ago, Swoop1 said:

 

All I have to do now is find out what the building was.

Let’s hope it wasn’t an ammo store 🤣

Intriguing story, which I’m following closely 👍🏻

[Swoop1]

I had a horrible thought today so fitted the anchor bolts to the template today and then inverted the pier and dry mounted the template.

I was able to confirm that the template holes and bolts line up perfectly with the bolt holes on the pier base🔧

Now to get enough time to myself to mix and pour the concrete.

[Swoop1]

Todays progress.

I took this lot-

And mixing in a wheelbarrow, 7 1/2 wheelbarrows later, I had this-

Which, after a bit of manipulation allowed this-

To be inserted-

Now, if I could only straighten up again, I would be alright.

 

[AstroNebulee]

1 hour ago, Swoop1 said:

Todays progress.

I took this lot-

And mixing in a wheelbarrow, 7 1/2 wheelbarrows later, I had this-

Which, after a bit of manipulation allowed this-

To be inserted-

Now, if I could only straighten up again, I would be alright.

 

Following this thread with great interest, did you ever work out what the subterranean wall was part of. You've made a really super neat job of the pier so far 👍

[Swoop1]

1 hour ago, AstroNebulee said:

Following this thread with great interest, did you ever work out what the subterranean wall was part of. You've made a really super neat job of the pier so far 👍

Haven't identified the building on the map yet but still trying.

[Swoop1]

The pier is installation is finished-

 

Just got to wait for a clear evening session to polar align.

One question. I initially levelled the adapter plate but then had to make adjustments so that the HEQ5Pro integral spirit level was spot on. Are these levels accurate enough?

[AstroNebulee]

6 minutes ago, Swoop1 said:

The pier is installation is finished-

 

Just got to wait for a clear evening session to polar align.

One question. I initially levelled the adapter plate but then had to make adjustments so that the HEQ5Pro integral spirit level was spot on. Are these levels accurate enough?

It's looking great, once you've polar aligned it will be good and as long as level all ok 👍

Edited May 22, 2021 by AstroNebulee